It is a common myth that it will take more heat to bring your home back up to the desired temperature after reducing the thermostat for only a few hours. This is not so. You will use less energy overall by lowering thermostats when you are out, even when you warm up your house from a cooler temperature. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-thermostat-tips-save-money.html#

Try turning down the thermostat 5 to 10 degrees at night,

and then turn it up again in the morning when the coffee is brewing. If you can get used to that, you’ll save 5 to 10 percent of your heating bill.

Planning a party? Turn the thermostat down.

Each guest radiates the equivalent of a 175-watt heater, and a large group will warm up the place without the furnace or the heating units in operation.

Do you need to talk yourself into a lower thermostat setting? Consider this:

Your houseplants are healthier in cooler air.

You’ll be healthier in the cooler air.

Your body will burn more calories keeping you warm, thereby helping you to lose weight and improve your general well-being.

LED/CFL LIGHTING

Switching out your incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) or LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs will save you money.

CFL & LED bulbs use less energy than incandescent bulbs and last longer. Using less energy not only saves you money on your electric bill, but also means you cause less pollution: producing electricity produces pollution; using less electricity causes less pollution.

CFLs or LEDs?

CFLs

CFLs now offer a range of color temperatures; some can mimic the color of incandescent bulbs. There are even dimmable CFLs, and with mass production, the cost has come down.

However, CFLs contain mercury and it is illegal to put them in your household trash. You must bring spent bulbs to a Westchester County Household recycling day or other venue that accepts them (like Home Depot, Ace Hardware and IKEA).

LED technology for home use is still emerging and so the cost per bulb is considerable and availability is not as great as with CFLs. However, LED bulbs are much more energy-efficient than even CFLs, last longer, and don’t contain mercury.